Swimming Pool Fencing Requirements: Federal Information

Building-up a swimming pool without knowing the federal requirements first could cause some inconveniences later on. This is especially true if unknowingly the construction of the swimming pool, including the fences, was haphazardly done.

So, if you are thinking of adding a swimming pool to your home, learn the fencing requirements first before anything else. So, what does the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission says about swimming pool federal fencing requirements?

Citing the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) news update dated August 1974, giving precautionary measures on how to mitigate circumstances where swimming pool – related accidents happen, the Commission has provided clear fencing requirements that need to be followed. About the fencing construction and maintenance, the CPSC says that:

“…There should be a fence at least six feet high around all sides of the pool with a locked gate to keep children out when there is no supervision and the fence should be constructed so it is difficult to climb. Lawn furniture, trees and shrubs should not be close enough to provide an easy boost over the fence. Avoid using a side of the house as part of the fence; toddlers have wandered out through an open patio door or window and drowned. …”

Clearly, the six feet high fence is intended to keep children out and away from the pool. The fence should be difficult to climb and far from trees or shrubs that would aid access to the pool. Also, ideally the swimming pool should be detached from the house.

Must Read:

Using one or more sides of a house as a fence, where there might be open windows and doors where children could pass through, is warned against. Children could be tempted to use it as a pathway towards the swimming pool – another potential situation where injuries could happen.

If you have already built a swimming pool and found out that somehow your current swimming pool set-up does not meet strictly the CPSC swimming pool fencing requirements, please don’t hesitate to visit the local authorities to check if there are other specific local ordinances and codes for safety requirements related to swimming pool fencing.

It always pays to be cautious than to be overconfident. After all, what you are protecting is not only the lives of those who are close to your heart but those children of your visitors or neighbors that could somehow, later on, visit your house with or without you being there.

So, following what the CPSC says regarding building your swimming pool fence should be your top priority in order to put others in a safe situation and yourself free of any liability that may cause you trouble if later on. If it was found out that you have been grossly negligent in building your swimming pool fence, it is doubtful that you would be able to argue that you did not know exactly what needed to be done because of your ignorance.